Ch 13: Breakdown

After refusing Conwell's offer, it seems freedom will be hard earned. Jack Richter thoughtlessly tells Grey of his parents' fate, and he begins to lose himself. Will a strange voice lead him astray?

            Finding it strange that the Warden would stand around and chat like this, Grey was about to ask what he found so interesting when Schmitt suddenly said, “Well folks, time for me to get back to work. Come along now, I got a private cell for each of ya…” Outside the meeting room waited the pair of armed guards, obviously guarding the only exit from the meeting room in case Grey and the others tried to escape. However, that was not all that awaited them. Clearly having stayed behind to listen in, Colonel Richter approached Schmitt as they all exited the room and asked, “May I have a word with them?” With a smirk, Schmitt responded, “Heh, somehow I figured you wouldn’t just run off. You don’t look too pleased though, considerin’ you got whatcha wanted.” It was true, the Colonel did not look pleased at all, and he sounded as though he was struggling to be civil as he said, “May I have a moment with the prisoners or not, Schmitt?” Schmitt laughed heartily and replied, “Sure, sure.” Richter slowly turned to look at Grey, and after a brief moment he simply said, “Why?” For the first time, Grey realized the hatred he had in his eyes whenever he looked at him. Just as simply, Grey replied, “Because it was wrong.” A shadow fell over Richter’s face, and he seemed to be trembling with rage as he quietly said, “Wrong? What does someone like you care about right or wrong?! Wasn’t it wrong when you murdered the soldiers who tried to defend Luminosa? Wasn’t it wrong when you slaughtered the innocent residents of the city? When you killed my wife and daughter?!” Desperate to make him understand, Scott broke into their conversation, saying, “He was brainwashed Jack!” With a quiet but commanding tone, Grey said, “Shut up Scott… Just… shut up…” Scott looked at him in surprise, and saw the painful expression in his eyes as Grey turned to look at Richter and said, “I have no excuses Richter. People died because of me, and no deal will ever make that go away. The only thing I can do to make it right is to give people like you justice. That’s part of why I went after Altera Veritas.” Heaving a sigh, Grey continued, “But now it looks like that’s over with, so do whatever you like with me. Just let the others go, they’re not a part of this.” The hall was silent for a moment as Richter and Grey stared at one another.

            Richter turned and walked a short distance from Grey, stopped, and said, “Justice… It’s nothing short of insulting to hear someone like you speak of justice!” Richter had turned his head to glare back at Grey as he said, “I don’t care if you feel sorry! I don’t even care if you were brainwashed, or that you lost your parents as well! You’ll never understand how I feel and I will NEVER forgive you!” At the mention of his parents, Grey’s eyes went wide and the color drained from his face. Staring at Richter a moment, Grey dropped to his knees and said, “Lost my… parents…?” Scott rushed over to him, kneeling beside him as he said, “I’m sorry Matt. They were… They were killed in your kidnapping. I wanted to tell you, but…” Richter was absolutely shocked, asking in disbelief, “He didn’t know?” Alexander walked out from behind Grey. Looking down at him, seeing the tears forming in his eyes, Alexander said, “I know this is hard to take in Grey… I’m sorry, I was just so afraid to tell you…” Anger flooded over Grey, as he lashed out at Alexander, saying, “How could you?! I kept hope because of you! HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME?!” He broke away from Scott and, his arms still bound, rose to his feet and assailed Alexander with kicks. Alexander was barely able to dodge them until the Warden finally stepped in pulled Grey away from Alexander. Struggling to hold him back, Schmitt said, “Come on, kid! Settle down!” Amy couldn’t stand to see him like this, and shouted, “Grey please, calm down!” Grey stopped and turned to look at her, and Amy almost burst into tears herself as she said, “I… I know how it feels to lose your parents too, but…” For a moment Grey simply stared at her, and then he went limp in Schmitt’s arms, turning his head down to the floor he started to mutter, “It can’t be… No, it can’t be…” Colonel Richter watched Grey as he fell into denial, unable to keep from feeling guilty as he said, “How could he not know?! It’s been three years…” Alexander quietly said, “I’m to blame for it. Given the unstable state his mind was already in, I feared that it would push him over the edge if he learned that Jonathan and Samantha had died during his kidnapping. You can all think whatever you like about me, but Colonel…” Alexander’s voice became stern as he said, “I will not claim to know how you have suffered because of the events one year ago, which I will always hold Altera Veritas ultimately responsible for, but if anyone has suffered most at their hands, it’s Grey. If you believe he is evil or without concern for others, I suggest you actually come to know what kind of person he is.” Amy smiled to herself and nodded, and sorry he’d ever doubted Alexander, Scott also smiled as he whispered, “Alexander…” Alexander turned to the Warden and said, “I think it’s high time you took us to our cells.” Somewhat amused by this request, Schmitt laughed and said, “It’s not every day the new prisoner demands to be put in his cell! I kinda feel more like one o’ them hotel bellhops than a Warden, but I’ll go with it…” Motioning one of his men to take Grey, who was still in total shock, Schmitt dramatically motioned for Alexander to follow, saying, “This way sir.” Alexander and the other’s followed Schmitt down the hall, leaving Colonel Richter behind, lost in thought with Alexander’s words ringing in his ears.

            Castrum Prison, Solitary Confinement Cell Four. Monday May 21, 520NA. Having sat in solitary confinement for two and a half days in a state of despair, Grey looked like a shell of his former self. He had begun hearing a voice inside his head. Almost constantly, it tormented him. He heard it even now as it whispered, “They’re dead.” Shaking his head as though to shake it out of his mind, Grey responded, “Shut up!” It simply whispered back, “They’re dead because of you.” Grey clenched his fists, his arms now in agony from his constant attempts to break free of the restraints, and yelled back, “Stop lying!” Relentless, the voice called, “Come, see for yourself. Come.” Feeling as though he were on the brink of losing his mind, if he hadn’t already, Grey said, “I can’t…” The voice immediately said, “Yes you can… Use it…” They had had this conversation so many times, but Grey still had yet to understand what this meant, and he simply insisted, “No, I can’t…” The voice just repeated, “Use it…” His frustration growing and growing, Grey asked, “Use what?!” It kept repeating, “Use it… Use it…” Grey merely started muttering curses as he struggled against his restraints again in spite of the pain. Suddenly the cell door opened, and there stood Mr. Conwell. As Conwell looked down at Grey, a sinister smile crossed his face for a moment, but then putting on a more compassionate smile, he said, “Well, good morning Grey! I must say you really don’t look too well. I’m truly sorry to see you like this. Don’t you think it’s time to reconsider my offer? Why put yourself through all this any longer? All you need to do in order to walk out of here as a free man is to agree to our proposal!” The voice called out again, “Use it…” Grey shut his eyes with a strained expression, shouting, “USE WHAT?!” Conwell looked frightened by his outburst, but as Grey returned to his subdued state, he said, “My, my… I had heard the guard saying you acted like you were hearing voices…” Kneeling down to look at him better, Conwell said, “Come now Grey, it’s been three years after all! Surely you must have suspected they’d met their fate.” Grey remained silent, refusing to look at him. Conwell stood up again, and briefly looking around the cell he fixed his eyes on the surveillance camera a moment before he continued, “I’m afraid, my dear Grey, that in this world the weak fall to their fate, while the strong reach forth and seize their destiny…” Grey felt anger swelling inside him as he listened to Conwell speaking of his parents in such a way, and the voice whispered, “Go ahead… kill him… use it…” Meanwhile, Conwell continued on, “It’s sad but true Grey. You were strong, despite all that stood in your way, you’ve lived on. They…” Conwell chuckled to himself as he said, “They were quite simply too weak to make the cut!” Grey trembled with rage, and his eyes went wide as the voice repeated clearly, “KILL HIM… USE IT…!” Unconsciously, Grey suddenly said, “Void Energy, Level 1.” Grey had used it, his own body beginning to generate a great amount of EDE. Strength surged forth from within him, and with that strength he broke free of his restraints, which were only designed to consume any EDE entering the body from the surroundings and therefore were completely useless in a situation where the EDE was being generated within the body. In terrified disbelief, Conwell moved to flee out the cell door, yelling, “GUARDS!” He had only barely gotten to the door before Grey formed a sword, and charging it with the power at his disposal, Grey growled, “Ein Soph Aur!” With a swing of his sword, he fired a massive wave of energy from the blade after Conwell. The incinerating wave of power turned him to dust, rushing past where he’d stood out into the hall and colliding with the adjacent wall, detonating in an explosion that rocked the entire building.

            Sitting in Solitary Confinement Cell Eleven, wearing his old clothes that he had requested from his personal belongings, Alexander sat in deep conversation with Serius, saying to him, “Well one way or another we’ll most likely have to wait for your power to fully return before we make an escape attempt. My original plan was to have you materialize once we were all in regular cells, have you break the restraints and open the cells, and then we’d fight our way to the airship." Shifting uncomfortably on the bench lining the wall, there was a hint of frustration in his tone as he continued, “However nothing has gone as I assumed, especially the revelation of what happened to Jonathan and Samantha three years ago. I’m not the least bit happy to be right, but judging from his reaction I doubt Grey will be able to provide any support in getting out of here. Especially after more than two days in solitary confinement…” Serius replied from within his mind, “Indeed. To be alone while dealing with such a loss, we can only pray that he can recover. The fact that he did not unleash his Void Energy in a blind rage is, at least, a small bit of hope.” Alexander nodded in agreement as he said, “Yes, I was quite worried he would go on a rampage. Truly amazing that girl, albeit sad she can sympathize with his plight. She knew exactly what to say. Scott may have been right, it might be his friends that get him through this.” Alexander sighed, and after a moment he continued, “I’m sure Scott has quite a bit on his mind as well. He’s known for three years, he was even able to attend the funeral. Meanwhile his best friend, their adopted son, returns from the dead with no memory of their time together or the fact they’re…” Alexander trailed off as the cell door suddenly opened and in stepped Warden Schmitt, who had heard him talking and said, “Boy oh boy, don’t tell me you’re talkin to yerself as well? I understand that kid goin’ a little nuts, but I figured you were made of stronger stuff than that!” Alexander was concerned by his comment, and quickly asked, “He’s been talking to himself?” Schmitt shrugged and said, “Well that’s the word on the ol’ grapevine. I’ve been hearin the guards sayin he’s been yellin himself hoarse with things like ‘use what’ or ‘shut up’ and so on.” Alexander’s concerns deepened, and he said, “Schmitt, as strange as it may be for a prisoner to ask you a favor, I think it’s rather urgent I go and see him.” Schmitt grinned widely as he said, “Actually, I’m here to talk to you bout somethin you might be interested in, seein as how you struck me as the brains of the operation here. Ya see… I’ve taken something of an interest in you all…”

            Schmitt didn’t have much of a chance to talk, as the facility suddenly shook with the sound of an explosion. The prison’s alarm began blaring loudly through the halls as Schmitt said, “What in blue blazes?!” With tone of great urgency, Alexander said, “Schmitt, you’ve got to take these restraints off of me now!” Schmitt looked at Alexander, and while his signature shades masked his face, Schmitt could tell he couldn’t have been more worried. With a big grin, Schmitt said, “Yes sir!” He quickly slid his card key into the slot on the restraints, and the cuffs opened and fell to the floor. Rubbing his wrists, Alexander asked, “Where’s Grey’s cell?” Schmitt drew out a folded piece of paper, and unfolded it into a map of the prison. His eyes racing across it, Schmitt said, “Well ya see, being that kid’s accomplices, you were all high profile prisoners and I got orders from the higher ups to keep you all separated. We’re here, and this here’d be his cell.” He pointed to one point on the map, then at a location all the way across the facility. As Alexander committed this to memory, Schmitt continued, “The other’s cells would be here and here.” He pointed at a location about the same distance away, but at the north side of the prison, and another on the side of the prison where they were, also to the north of them. Looking up from the map at Alexander, Schmitt said, “We dilly-dally gettin outta here we ain’t gonna make it. Getting the Brigadier General, the girl, and the kid in that order would put us reasonably close to the hangar. Hijack the Audentia and we’re outta here!” Raising an eyebrow, Alexander couldn’t help but ask, “We? Getting out of here? Schmitt did you, the Warden, just say you’re going to help us with a jailbreak?” Schmitt laughed heartily and said, “Yep, you’re definitely the brains of the operation! I’ll fill you in on why I’m doin this later. We ain’t got time to chit chat, right?” Seeing his point, Alexander smirked and nodded in agreement. Together, the two bolted out of the cell and up the hall to the north.

            As Schmitt and Alexander arrived at Scott’s cell, the guard outside it looked to Schmitt and said, “S-sir, the alarm! Is there a breakout or something? What was that an explosion I just heard?” Glancing Alexander, he added, “H-hey isn’t that a prisoner with you?” Schmitt seemed to think for a second, and then he said, “Uh yeah, there’s been a jailbreak! I’m goin round gettin some of the high profile prisoners so we can move ‘em to a different location, for security reasons and such.” The guard seemed pacified by his explanation for a moment, then he asked, “Um, uh, sir… The prisoner has no restraints on him. I heard they were energists…” Schmitt quickly drew a pistol from his holster and fired it at the guard. When the round of ammunition struck the guard, it did no damage to him but stuck to the guard as he violently twitched for a moment, then collapsed on the floor. With a sigh, Schmitt shook his head and muttered, “Ah well… Bob here always was too smart for his own good. Ya ask me he shoulda been a doctor or somethin.” Stepping over Bob, Schmitt slid his card key through the slot in the door’s interface. The door slid open, and Scott fell out the doorway, obviously having been leaning on the door. Looking down at Scott collapsed on the floor, Schmitt said, “Rise and shine, Brigadier General! We’re getting outta here!” Understandably confused, Scott struggled to his feet, walked over to Alexander, and whispered, “Is this guy for real?!” Alexander laughed quietly and said, “I’m wondering myself. Then again, there are all kinds in this world…”

            After Schmitt took off his restraints, Scott stood there and rubbed his wrists for a moment, and then turned to Alexander as he said, “You got any idea what that explosion was? This aura I’m feeling, who the hell is it?” Alexander had noticed it too after he’d left the cell, and with a grave look he replied, “Well if my fears are correct… it’s Grey.” Schmitt and Scott looked at him in confusion, and Schmitt said, “What’s there to be afraid of? Ain’t that kid on our side? If he’s loose somehow, I would figure he’s trying to get ya’ll outta here, right?” Looking as though he doubted such a possibility, Alexander responded, “Honestly I don’t know, but judging by the absurd amount of power he’s emanating, I’d guess that Grey has snapped like he did one year ago in Luminosa. I’m worried he may destroy us along with the entire prison if someone doesn’t stop him.” Concerned for his wayward friend, Scott said, “You’ve gotta be kidding! Isn’t there something we can do?!” Concerned about the situation in general, Schmitt added, “Yeah, what now? That kid’s that Black Knight after all! What are we gonna do against someone like him?” Alexander himself was trying to figure out what to do to resolve the situation, and he struggled to come up with a plan as he muttered, “Right now he’s even more dangerous than he was as the Black Knight. Altera Veritas used a high tech power suit to draw out his untapped powers, but it also helped control them. Right now Grey is using his Void Energy, an ability that lets him generate EDE from within his own body, as well as surpass the EDE limits of his body. That basically means that even at 100% of his normal EDE limit, he could still increase his amount of EDE. Normally people must train much more intensively just to increase their EDE limit slightly, but with such an ability, one can quickly become far stronger in battle." 

            Alexander’s explanation took a more dire turn as he continued to explain, “However, even though he can generate as much as he wants, it takes training and skill to control the extra amount without terrible consequences. If he starts generating more EDE than he is capable of controlling, he could kill himself, not to mention endanger others. It’s not an easy ability to use, and ever since he used a massive amount of EDE to devastate Luminosa, he’s lost all memory of how to invoke it. I was able to stop him last time with the help of a friend, but in my current condition there’s little chance I could do much against him now…” Feeling the conversation was going in the wrong direction, Scott said, “Hold on here, you’re talking like you intend to fight him! We’re going to save him right?! Let’s just figure out a way to-” Alexander interrupted him, saying, “Scott I understand how you feel, but there may be no choice, I…” Alexander paused, having thought of an idea. Considering it a moment, he said, “I think I have a plan. We need to go get Amy.”

            Guards fleeing in his wake, Grey moved down the hall with swords in hand and aura ablaze. Hiding behind the corner at the end of the hall listening for him to draw nearer, one brave guard finally leaned around the corner and opened fire with an EDE weapon, but Grey merely deflected the energy bolts with his swords. Closing the distance and literally disarming the guard, Grey quickly followed up with a strike from his other sword that pierced the guard’s chest. Grey tossed his body aside as he marched onward, and within his head the voice continued on, “Come… Come to me… Kill all who oppose you… Come see the truth with your own eyes… I will show you the Truth…” Grey seemed to be in a trance, his path inexplicably guided by an unknown force. As he approached the hangar entrance, he saw someone waiting for him, leaning against the door. The person called out, “Well, well, well… You know, you all almost had me fooled with your little charade. In the end though, Grey…” It was Colonel Richter. He stepped away from the door and stood to face Grey. Pistol in hand, as he unleashed his aura, Richter said, “You’re exactly the cold-blooded murderer I always imagined! I, Colonel Jack Richter, the Energist of Prisms, will end you once and for all!”

            Raising his pistol, Richter fired rounds of crystal bullets, but using his swords Grey deflected them with ease. Then the voice in his head shouted, “Kill him…” Channeling EDE into his sword, Grey swung it down and unleashed a wave of energy that tore across the ground at Richter. Dodging the wave quickly as Grey rushed at him, Richter formed four small crystal spheres in his hand, holding them in between his fingers and thumb. Swiftly he hurled them at Grey, who stopped in his tracks and chanted, “Velo Eternus Nox!” The small spheres exploded in prismatic blasts of light, but as the dust cleared, a barrier of black hexagons linked together like scales hung in the air, and Grey was nowhere to be seen. Eyes wide, Richter whirled about as Grey came at him with a downward slash, blocking his first blade with his pistol. As Grey thrust his second blade at him, Richter formed in his other hand a crystal dagger and managed to deflect his blade enough to avoid a fatal strike. The blade instead stabbed deep into Richter’s shoulder, and gritting his teeth in pain momentarily, Richter kicked Grey in the chest, forcing him to relinquish the blade as he was knocked away. Richter quickly raised his pistol and fired, but just as quickly Grey recovered and raised his remaining sword, causing the bullet to ricochet and strike a fire extinguisher on the wall. The resulting blast of foam and white gas washed over Richter, and Grey quickly took advantage of this distraction and drove his blade through Richter’s chest. Dropping his dagger and pistol, Richter choked, “Bast…ard…” Releasing his blade, Grey kicked Richter away from him. Landing sprawled on his back, Richter could tell his injuries would cause him to bleed to death quickly, and as Grey walked over to him and raised his hand to fire an energy attack, Richter thought, “I’m sorry… I could not avenge you…”

            “GREY, NO!” shouted Amy. Just as Grey was about to finish Colonel Richter, his eyes went wide as he turned to see Amy and the others coming down the hall towards him. As though he was suffering from brain freeze, Grey reached up and clutched his head as he said, “Ugh…Amy…?” Then, the voice called out, “Come… Come to me… Behold the Truth… Come…” Still clutching his head, Grey ran to the hanger door and into the hangar as Amy shouted, “Grey wait! Come back!” Reassuringly, Schmitt said, “It’ll be ok little lady! He can’t open the launch door during a breakout! You gotta have my card key for that.” However, what he didn’t know was that Grey had his Cyber-link ability. Quickly placing a hand on the door controls, Grey opened the launch door by overriding the lockdown system. He then leaped onto one of the patrol air cycles, and using his Cyber-link again, he interfaced with the air cycle’s ignition systems and started it up. Amy and the others arrived just in time to watch him fly off through the open launch door. They could only wonder where he was headed.

Reviews

[Ryan Henderson]

This chapter was very good! You must put a lot of effort into checking your pieces for spelling/grammar errors! I have not spotted very many in this book! This made the flow very nice, the pace of this chapter is great! I almost forget which chapter I am on each time I review your chapters because I am going through them quickly! I am loving the book so far! Keep writing :D

[KeithKVH]

Thank you, you're drawing near the first big confrontation! I appreciate your reviews thus far, I'm always looking forward to any thoughts you might have on the characters or story. I'll do my best to return, the truth is I have my grandfather here who needs a great deal of caretaking, so I am sometimes very busy.

I have read through all three currently completed volumes at least three times trying to make them completely spotless. My keyboard is well known for sticking, and working late at night always comes back to bite you later. I think I started writing all of this more than four years ago...

[Ryan Henderson]

I completely understand about your grandfather! And I first started my big writing project four years ago as well! And yes, working late at night on a story does come back to bite you later...